Niigata Prefecture, with its majestic nature and the sea spreading out in front of you. It is the fifth largest in Japan, overflowing with nature such as the sea, mountains, and rivers. You can enjoy various outdoor activities, winter sports, and marine sports. You can enjoy the scenery and food of each season at the same time, captivating the people who visit. In this article, we will introduce a carefully selected list of recommended activities that you can experience in Niigata Prefecture. When you visit Niigata, please refer to this article and enjoy your visit to the fullest.
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What is Niigata like?
Niigata is home to numerous spots where you can enjoy scenery, history, and food culture. As mentioned earlier, Niigata Prefecture is equipped with an environment where you can enjoy both outdoor and indoor activities. For example, at the Bandai Bridge over the Shinano River, the longest river in Japan, you can enjoy various spectacular views such as the sunset over the Sea of Japan and the illumination, depending on the time of day.
Top 10 Recommended Activities in Niigata
From traditional indoor activities to outdoor activities utilizing the vast nature such as the sea and mountains, Niigata Prefecture offers a variety of plans. There are many activities that can be enjoyed throughout the year regardless of the season, as well as those that are limited to certain seasons. We will introduce activities in various fields. Please choose according to your travel plan and the time of your visit.
Niigata Fireworks Festival
Firework festivals are held all over Japan in the summer. If you're traveling to Niigata, be sure to check out a firework festival.
The Nagaoka Festival Fireworks Display is held every year on August 2nd and 3rd along the Shinano River, which runs through Nagaoka City. Approximately 20,000 fireworks are launched over the course of two days, and the event is famous as a large-scale event that attracts about one million visitors each year. Along with the Omagari Fireworks in Akita and the Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition in Ibaraki, it is one of the "Three Great Fireworks Festivals of Japan".
Kashiwazaki City borders the Sea of Japan in the Chūetsu region. The "Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks Display" is a summer tradition in Kashiwazaki. It is held every year on July 26th, and about 16,000 fireworks are launched in an hour and a half, attracting many visitors from outside the local area.
Both are very crowded, so it is recommended to reserve a viewing seat in advance.
Sado's Tub Boat
Sado Island, located in the western part of Niigata Prefecture. In this region, which prospered through fishing, round wooden tubs called "tarai boats" have been used as boats since the Edo period to spear and catch fish and collect seaweed.
On Sado Island, a popular activity is to take a leisurely boat ride on a traditional tarai boat. The boatman rows the oar and tours around the vicinity of the harbor. The beauty of the sea viewed while swaying gently is breathtaking! In fact, it is said that the tarai boat that Chihiro was rowing in the Studio Ghibli film "Spirited Away" was from Sado.
👉[Niigata/Sado] Experience the nature of Sado Island! 1 day rental bicycle plan
Sake Tasting and Brewery Tour
Niigata, known as a rice-producing region, is also active in sake brewing, which uses rice as a raw material. It ranks third in Japan's sake production volume (as of 2023), and sake brands such as "Kubota," "Koshino Kanbai," and "Hakkaisan," which are often seen in Japanese pubs, are produced in Niigata. It's not uncommon for Japanese people to travel to Niigata in search of delicious sake.
Many sake breweries in Niigata Prefecture offer sake tasting and comparison. Even if you're not used to drinking sake, you might find your preference by trying a little bit at a time and feeling the difference in taste.
Also, there are breweries that offer valuable brewery tours. You can listen to the process of making sake while looking around the brewery. As reservations are often required, be sure to check the official website of the brewery you plan to visit.
👉https://www.niigata-sake.or.jp/en/kuramoto/
👉Recommended Niigata Leisure, Activity, Play, and Sightseeing Information
Traditional Sitting Room Experience
The Geisha of Niigata are said to have originated in the Edo period. There are no special rules for watching Geisha dances or playing in the parlor, so if you don't understand something, you can ask the Geisha each time and create the space together. They will kindly teach you how to play, so you can enjoy it casually. Please burn the beautiful arts and dances of the Geisha into your eyes.
The Furumachi Geisha of Niigata, with a tradition of over 200 years, is one of the representative cultures of Niigata, and it is said that at its peak, there were as many as 300 Geisha active. You can also call them to a restaurant and enjoy a meal together, so why not feel the tradition of Japan when you visit Niigata.
👉https://www.nvcb.or.jp/topics/geigi
Naeba Ski Resort
Naeba Ski Resort, located in Yuzawa, Minamiuonuma District, Niigata Prefecture, a heavy snowfall area, is one of the popular ski resorts with a history of hosting many world championships. Among the ski resorts in Niigata Prefecture, it is located at a high altitude, and its blessed location allows you to enjoy powder snow.
Due to its convenient location, which is easily accessible by Shinkansen and bus, many tourists visit every winter. With 21 courses that even beginners can enjoy on a vast slope, you can enjoy different faces of Naeba each time you visit. There are plenty of activities and parks that even small children can enjoy, so families with children can play to their heart's content. There are also plenty of rental plans, so there's no problem going empty-handed.
At Naeba Ski Resort, experienced instructors with international qualifications will support you. One of the points is that even beginners can easily take lessons because one instructor can give lessons to up to four people.
▶Summer Activities
▶Winter Activities
👉Japanese Beef and Mochi Pork BBQ Experience (Niigata)
Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort
Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort, located in Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture, is a popular spot for winter activities. The breathtaking panoramic view of Minamiuonuma from an altitude of about 1,000m is a sight to behold, leaving tourists in awe. You can enjoy a 7-minute aerial walk to the summit on one of the world's largest ropeways. The panoramic view will surely add a touch of luxury to your trip.
Once you step into the mountain, a silvery white world unfolds, with well-conditioned slopes and powdery snow waiting for you. There are also snow lands where children can play safely, and a snow terrace where you can enjoy the spectacular view, available only in March, so it is designed to be enjoyed by families with children. In addition, there are a variety of courses that can be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to experts, so you can enjoy all day long as long as your stamina lasts. You can also go to the neighboring Gala Yuzawa Ski Resort and Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort from the summit area, which is attractive because you can efficiently visit three ski resorts.
Why not enjoy the unique silver world of Niigata in winter?
▶Summer Activities
👉Yuzawa Kogen Panorama Park | Ropeway round trip ticket (Niigata, Echigo Yuzawa)
Private Fishing Experience
You can experience trout fishing in a mountain stream with a guide who can speak English. Rainbow trout can only survive in high water quality and low temperatures, so they only inhabit limited places nationwide, but a local guide who knows the area well will guide you to a spot where you can catch them.
The Igarashi River and the Morimon River area are famous river fishing spots. It's a place where fishing enthusiasts from all over the country gather, and it's known for catching various fish, including cherry salmon, rainbow trout, and Hokkaido char, which only appear in places with good water quality.
👉Native Fishing Experience in Niigata
Stained Glass Experience
Although many people have seen stained glass, not many have had the opportunity to create something with it. This activity allows you to choose from 10 different panels to create a pen holder or tray out of stained glass. As you can take home your creation on the same day, it makes for a great travel memory.
You'll be choosing from pre-cut glass kits to make your creation, which makes the process quite convenient. The staff provides careful guidance in small groups, so even if it's your first time or you're participating alone, you can join with confidence. Please consider using this stained glass experience as a souvenir of your trip.
Pottery Experience
When it comes to traditional crafts in Niigata Prefecture, Shinzu-yaki is the one. At a pottery class in Sanjo City, you can try your hand at an electric potter's wheel. Basically, you can experience making a matcha tea bowl-sized work and painting a small square plate. Depending on the plan, it may take about a month to complete, but the time waiting for it is also enjoyable.
It might be nice to make utensils for daily use and use them regularly. You can freely create plates, mugs, etc., and you can participate from one person, so it might be good to take time to face pottery.
👉https://soumi-tea-ceremony.amebaownd.com/
Outdoor Sauna Experience
At Sauna Horizon, you can enjoy an outdoor sauna with an overwhelming sense of openness. You can also rent it out for private use, allowing you to enjoy a stress-free space all to yourself. Since swimsuits are required, it can be used without hesitation by mixed groups of men and women.
The huge wood-burning stove allows for self-throwing. The speakers in the sauna room and on the rooftop can be connected to your smartphone, so you can relax while listening to your favorite music. It's also nice that you can enjoy fresh air baths in various places such as the water's edge, the rooftop, and the lounge in the sauna building. The price goes up, but the fresh air bath at sunset is particularly exceptional. There is also a place to stay, so you might want to stay overnight.
Enjoy activities in Niigata!
So far, we have introduced a carefully selected list of recommended activities that you can experience in Niigata. There are many outdoor activities that take advantage of Niigata's magnificent nature, and all of them are unique plans that you can't experience anywhere else. Not to mention outdoor activities, indoor activities are also fulfilling. We have carefully selected plans that allow you to fully enjoy Niigata regardless of the weather, so when you visit Niigata, please refer to this article and try using any activities that interest you.
👉New Greenpia Tsunan One-day plan with barbecue reservation (Niigata Prefecture)
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